Abel to Yzerman

DET (31-15-1) has won each of its last 15 home games, tied for the fifth-longest single-season home winning streak in NHL history, it is the longest home win streak in the NHL since 1976. Jimmy F’n Howard has started each of those 15 home games, and has posted an obscene 1.39 GAA, .947 save percentage and four shutouts in that run. Alas, the Wings powerplay has spiraled from whiskey laden to crack whores, a paltry 3 for 41 (7%) over its last 16 games. Uncle Mike is none too happy: “We’re not getting quality chances. We’re not wearing anybody out. Our power play wasn’t good enough tonight. It hasn’t been good enough in a long time and we’ve got to fix that.”

Fortunately for the Wings, the Blue Jackets (5-15-2) are the worst penalty killing team in the Western Conference at 76.8 percent. The BJ’s also have the worst record in the league, the third worst scoring 2.33 G/G, and the second worst defense 3.22 GA/G.

About Abel to Yzerman

Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977. No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y. Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation. There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature. Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that. Your suggestions and critiques are welcome: wphoulihan@gmail.com